Custom face mask shows photo of woman’s preemie nephews

A dedicated aunt from Tacoma, Washington is stressing the importance of wearing masks during the coronavirus pandemic by sporting a custom one that pays homage to her premature twin nephews.

Lex and Lochlan O’Malley were born at just 24 weeks gestation in 2017, and spent 15 weeks in the NICU before coming home on oxygen — and they’ve continued to face health struggles, including chronic lung disease.

To help more Americans understand the importance of wearing masks for people like her nephews — who are more vulnerable to the virus — Tennessy Fraumeni had her own powerful mask custom made to show an image of the two as very little babies in the hospital.

Statement piece: Tennessy Fraumeni ordered a custom mask from Etsy that says ‘this is why’ and includes a photo of her nephews, who were born prematurely, in the hospital

Little: Lex and Lochlan O'Malley were born at just 24 weeks gestation in 2017, and spent 15 weeks in the NICU at Tacoma General Hospital in Washington

Little: Lex and Lochlan O’Malley were born at just 24 weeks gestation in 2017, and spent 15 weeks in the NICU at Tacoma General Hospital in Washington

Fraumeni and her sister Savannah O’Malley were pregnant at the same time in 2017 when O’Malley went into labor prematurely, delivering her baby at 24 weeks.

While 24 weeks is the earliest that an infant is considered viable, babies born at that period have a 60 to 70 per cent chance of survival. 

The twins spent 15 weeks in the NICU at Tacoma General Hospital and had several surgeries during that time.

‘When [my sister] would visit the NICU, she had a baby in her belly,’ O’Malley told the Today show. ‘It was pretty crazy for her to look at my twins knowing that the baby in her belly probably looked the same.’  

Even once they were ready to come home, they stayed on oxygen — and in the time since their birth, they’ve had over 100 doctor’s appointments. When they were 18 months old, they spent another month in the hospital the flu and respiratory syncytial virus and continue to have chronic lung disease. 

Scary stuff: The boys' mom Savannah O'Malley says one infection could land them in the hospital and preemies have 'little to no immune system'

Scary stuff: The boys’ mom Savannah O’Malley says one infection could land them in the hospital and preemies have ‘little to no immune system’

Uphill battle: Even once they were ready to come home, they stayed on oxygen ¿ and in the time since their birth, they've had over 100 doctor's appointments

Uphill battle: Even once they were ready to come home, they stayed on oxygen — and in the time since their birth, they’ve had over 100 doctor’s appointments

Help them: O'Malley and Fraumeni stress that mask compliance is for vulnerable people like the twins

Help them: O’Malley and Fraumeni stress that mask compliance is for vulnerable people like the twins

‘Although they look strong and healthy, a respiratory virus can put them in the hospital,’ O’Malley said. 

Widespread mask compliance should help reduce their risk of catching COVID-19, as masks mostly work to stop the wearer from spreading disease. But so many people still refuse to wear them.

So Fraumeni turned to Etsy, where she ordered a personalized face mask to send a message.

The black mask bears the words ‘this is why’ and includes a photo of her nephews still hooked up to tubes in the hospital.  

‘Masks suck,’ O’Malley wrote on Instagram, sharing an image of her sister in the mask.

‘They are unnatural, hot, and uncomfortable, and for all those reasons it is pretty easy to forget why we are wearing them.

Scary: At 18 months old (not pictured), they spent another month in the hospital the flu and respiratory syncytial virus and continue to have chronic lung disease

Scary: At 18 months old (not pictured), they spent another month in the hospital the flu and respiratory syncytial virus and continue to have chronic lung disease

'Masks suck,' O'Malley said, but 'if this prevents just one mother from having to know what it feels like to have her child on a vent, it has served its purpose'

‘Masks suck,’ O’Malley said, but ‘if this prevents just one mother from having to know what it feels like to have her child on a vent, it has served its purpose’

'Wearing a mask is the greatest act of kindness,' O'Malley said

‘Wearing a mask is the greatest act of kindness,’ O’Malley said

‘My sister, however, found a way to be a little more direct for anyone who forgets why we are doing this. This is the mask she is rocking in public.

‘If this prevents just one mother from having to know what it feels like to have her child on a vent, it has served its purpose.’ 

O’Malley and husband, Kyle are, of course, being extra careful to protect their kids. 

‘When COVID became a clear threat in early March, we pulled our 5-year-old daughter [Poppy] out of preschool and went back in to isolation just as we had done when the twins first came home from the NICU,’ she said.

‘I know most children are not severely affected by COVID, but it is not a risk I am willing to take considering a cold has previously hospitalized my boys.’

But she urges others to do their part, too, and to consider the most vulnerable populations and how they can be endangered and killed by others’ lax attitude about mask wearing. 

'Preemies have little to no immune system ¿ we are their immune system,' she added

‘Preemies have little to no immune system — we are their immune system,’ she added

‘Wearing a mask is the greatest act of kindness,’ she said. ‘You are not wearing it for yourself, you wear it to slow the spread of this nasty disease and protect the vulnerable, including babies. 

‘Preemies have little to no immune system — we are their immune system. They have fought like hell just to be here and we owe it to them to slow and stop the spread of COVID-19.’

Several studies (including here, here, and here) have shown that wearing a mask significantly reduces the respiratory droplets that a person emits while speaking, coughing, sneezing, and merely breathing, and also reduces how far they travel.

Yet another study also found that mask mandates in 15 states corresponded with a slowdown of the COVID-19 growth rate in those states.



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